Today I'm turning my blog over to Nara Malone, with a review of her latest novel "Blind Heat," which is the 2nd book in her Pantherian Passions Series!!ALSO -- Be sure to comment on this post to be able to sign up for this tour's GIVEAWAYs (listed below)!! [Blog Tour will run from July 23 - 27, 2012]
- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Kindle Edition - File Size: 462 KB | Expected Release Date: May 2012 | Publisher: Ellora's Cave | Obtained: Goddess Fish Promotions"Blind Heat" [Pantherian Passions Series, Book 2] by Nara Malone
My Book Summary : After being on the run from her father for years, Allison (Allie) has carved out a life and friends for herself that she likes and doesn't want to give it up. Because of that Allie, tries to distance herself from anything that could be considered illegal in any way or from any man or "friend" that she considers could cause her trouble. Therefore, when she meets Marcus for the "first time" at the local park she knows right away that he's nothing but trouble. Yet, even though she knows better than to get involved with Marcus she is undeniably drawn to him.
Marcus is a shifter who, unlike most of his kind, is living among humans. Another reason he's different from his kind is because of his compassion to the hybrids (animals who have been given human brain capabilities) that he rescues from labs close to where he lives. However, the reason he first "stalks" Allie is because after one recent rescue he misplaces the pregnant cat he was rescuing and he believes that Allie has the cat. Yet every time that he tried to talk to her about "his lost cat," it seems that she ignores him. So, when they "meet" in the park he is surprised about their intense connection as much as Allie is. The only thing they both come to realize after their meeting in the park is that Allie suffers from face blindness, which is why she keeps meeting Marcus over and over.
When Marcus offers a way for Allie to overcome her face blindness she reluctantly agrees. Not long after they begin their "training," Marcus feels that there is a lot more to Allie then meets the eye. The question is will Allie be able to accept her uniqueness once it becomes apparent to her or will she strive for her "normal" world again?
My Book Review : 3.5 out of 5 stars, this mysterious and playful novel wraps you up within the intense and intriguing world that the author created. Allie and Marcus play off of each other so well. I especially loved their personal growth with each other. Plus, the secondary characters were so fun!! I can't wait to find out what will happen to Jake, Ben, Maya, Seth, and the rest of Marcus' friends and family!! Mostly Jake since he just seems so sweet and cuddly that I hope he'll end up with someone good, I suspect Allie's sister.
With that being said, the only thing I didn't enjoy about this novel was Allie's constant denial about her feelings and how when she got to nervous, about either her feelings or the actions of those around her, the first thing she did was run away/separate herself from that person or place. It just got a little redundant after a while, even while I understood a bit of her resistance to change.
Overall, it was because of the full cast of characters within this series that made me like the novel as much as I did. And because of that, I would recommend this series to anyone who likes paranormal romances with a new twist on the "typical" shifter stories.
Author's Novel Extras : Blind Heat Games
Author's Book Trailer :
Book Teaser(s) :
He was staring at her with a look that was like being lost and found all at once. She tried to make sense of that impression. His reaction resonated in her, a fluttering high in her stomach that quickly settled into a calm that rippled outward, as if something important had found the place it belonged.
His fingers were in her hair, at first just a brush of fingertips, pushing a lock back from her face, but then curling in the soft depths and a fist followed. The tug of it went past the roots of her hair and into her belly, deeper than that, into a place she couldn’t acknowledge. She had to bite her lip to hold in an answering moan.
“Who are you?” he murmured, as if he was asking himself instead of her. ~ within Chapter 4
She was done playing his games.For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Nara, then please check out her website.
But the idea had already taken root. It would feel so good.
“The man is a fucking sadist,” she gritted out between chattering teeth. ~ within Chapter 8
About the Author :
Like the heroine, Allie, in "Blind Heat," Nara is face blind and lived with the condition not knowing there was a medical explanation for her inability to remember faces. It’s a rare and only recently publicized condition. She hopes "Blind Heat" will help get the word out about face blindness.Nara lives on a small farm in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains. When she's not writing, she loves to run, hike, bike, and kayak. Every story she tells incorporates her love of animals, nature, and adventure.
Book Excerpt :
The greatest threats from a man were injury or death. She’d known how to read those kinds of threats in a man before she was old enough to read a book. She could see no intent to harm. No evil. He looked at her as if he’d discovered something precious. A warmth seemed to reach from his eyes into her soul, drawing her closer. She made her choice.
The red cloth shimmered with an aura of passion, dared her to press her body to it. The thought sent her blood zinging through her veins. There was something there, something irresistible. His eyes spoke promises she could feel. Her feet wouldn’t let her turn away, but took the risk. Took one step. Then the next. Her lips burned with a need to glide over his jawline, explore planes and angles with kisses and nips. Her heart hammered so loud he had to hear it even over the rain.
True to his word, he didn’t move an inch until she was right there in front of him, reaching to press her hands to the shirt, feel its heat, prove he was real. Her palms sighed with pleasure, like the fabric was a meal to be savored. His strong fingers closed around her wrist then, not painfully but with the finality of a manacle, reminding her that he’d said he wouldn’t let her go until he had what he wanted.
“Good girl,” he whispered, soothing away the little trill of fear that rose with his touch, stroking her face with the backs of his fingers. Her body sang like chimes in the wind, notes shivering down her spine.
“I won’t stop at a kiss,” he said. “But you can start with one. Make it sweet.”
She rose obediently to her toes, finding his lips, feeling them firm, parting under hers. He ordered and demanded with such a low, seductive tone. If he’d told her to go rob the jewelry store, in just the same way, it would have seemed a good idea.
He shifted, turning quickly so she was between him and the tree, cutting off any chance to change her mind and run. He held her face between his hands, and her own hands felt small and fragile against the breadth of his. He kissed his desire into her. Her mind grappled to reassert caution, but her thoughts slipped away, formless as water spilling through fingers. He didn’t stop kissing until she stopped thinking, until the rigidity in her muscles softened, until she kissed him back.
He tasted like spring rain.
His hands were warm through her soggy shirt, his fingers curved under her chilled breasts, his thumbs stroking over the tops. Thumbs and fingers came together, squeezing until she squirmed. His lips and tongue moved over her neck, tracing the line of her collarbone, a warm, sensual touch that made her whimper. He split the worn cotton with a sharp twist. The ripping sound jolted her. Her shirt split down the center, parting to offer her breasts. A wave of fear welled in her belly. of desire trickled between her thighs. She glanced down the puddled path. He pressed her tighter against the tree.
“You had your chance,” he whispered. “It’s the last I’m willing to give you for a while.”
Giveaways!! :
- A digital copy of "The Tiger's Tale" [Pantherian Passions Series, Book 1] and a $10 Ellora's Cave Gift Card to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour
- A Gift Card to purchase a video game targeted for female gamers written by Nara Malone with Orchid Games called "Spirit Walkers: Curse of the Cypress Witch" to a second randomly drawn commenter during the tour
To Enter : Please leave a comment on this post, with a valid email address included at the end of it.
Soo .... COMMENT, COMMENT, COMMENT on this post!! And you could WIN!! =0)
ALSO -- Be sure to follow the tour around the other blog sites! Commenting on the other stops on the tour will also increase your chance of winning!
Find Nara Malone :
- Nara Malone - Website/Blog
- Blog containing interactive content for her books from two series that include therian shapeshifters – Patherian Passions, and Passions Portal
- Blog containing interactive content for Shadowling Manor, the setting for the multi-author paranormal series
- Facebook Page
- Goodreads
Thank you for hosting Nara today.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for taking time to read Blind Heat and write such a well thought out review.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting! I'm glad you enjoyed my review! =0)
DeleteThanks for the review--it's good to know that the side characters are really interesting, too!
ReplyDeletevitajex(at)aol(dot)com
Anytime! =0)
Delete